Boat trimmer



July 22, 1969 E. C. BEALS 3,456,610

BOAT TRIMMER Filed Oct. l1, 1967 l 5)6 14 'rz "[70 l :r: Jv ,g- 1 i M 2an i 58 I 6 60 FIG. 4

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INVENTOR.

EUGENE C. BEALS BY W fr. 591k.

/apn 2f. 5% ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,456,610 BOAT TRIMMER Eugene C. Beals, 802 NE. 8th St., Hallandale, Fla. 33009 Filed Oct. 11, 1967, Ser. No. 674,627 Int. Cl. B63b 1/18 U.S. Cl. 114-665 10 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A boat trimming device includes a trim tab to be mounted pivotally at the aft end of the boat in trimming relation thereto, a trimming rod connected to the tab, a guide operatively connected to the rod with means for connecting the guide to the boat above the tab and a locking structure associated with the rod and operable manually to retain the rod and therefore the tab in a given position and further operable manually to release the rod for generally vertical lmovement to adjust the tab. In a preferred embodiment, the rod has depressions in it, and the locking means includes a pin which is inserted into the guide and projects into one depression to lock the rod. An extension is pivotally attached to one end of the pin. When the extension is generally perpendicular to the pin, it locks the pin in place, and when the extension is in axial alignment with the pin, the pin can be retracted out of the depression, thus releasing the rod for adjustment. The position of the extension can be changed by rotating the pin.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Boat trimming devices have been proposed previously, and some of these devices are in use on boats at the present time. The purpose of such devices is to provide longitudinal and lateral trimming of the boat under varying loading in order to obtain optimum attitude for movement of the boat through the water. When properly trimmed, the boat can attain greater speed, less fuel consumption and improved visibility, and adjustments can be made for varying load conditions. The trim tab can be moved to a raised position so that it has no effect, and this may be desirable in rough waters or a following sea.

Many of the known trimming devices are quite elaborate, and as a practical matter, these devices are used only on relatively large boats. The devices are sometimes hydraulically operated, and this, of course, makes the devices relatively complicated and expensive. There has been a need for a simple manually operated boat trimming device which could be installed on any size boat, but particularly suitable for small boats. Such a device should be easy to install and operate, and should be a straightforward design enabling it to be manufactured and sold at low cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a boat trimming device in which a rod connected to a trim tab can be attached at the aft end of the boat so that the rod can be raised and lowered to adjust the position of the trim tab. A guide structure, also attached to the aft end of the boat, guides the movement of the rod, and a locking device is associated with the guide for locking the rod in a desired position.

In a preferred embodiment, the guide is a block which has one hole extending through it in which the trimming rod is received for vertical movement, and the guide has a second hole extending through it transversely of the iirst hole and communicating therewith. A pin structure 3,456,610 Patented July 22, 1969 rice is inserted through this second hole and seats in one of several depressions in the rod to lock the rod in place. The pin can be retracted from the depression to release the rod for vertical adjustment. The locking structure also includes an extension member, preferably ya flat metal strip, which is pivotally attached to one end of the pin. When the extension strip is axially aligned with the pin and the pin is retracted out of a depression in the rod, the extension strip is pulled into the guide Opposite the depression, but does not engage the depression and therefore permits movement of the rod. The extension strip has an enlargement at the end thereof opposite the pin, and the extension engages the guide block when the pin is retracted to retain the pin and the extension strip in the guide block. After adjustment of the rod, the pin may be reinserted into the guide block to engage a depression of the rod, and upon rotation of the pin through about degrees, the strip extension will pivot to a position in which it is perpendicular to the pin and engageable with the guide block to retain the pin in its locking position. As an additional feature, the strip extension may be received pivotally in a slot in the end of the locking pin and may have a projection which engages the base 0f the slot when the strip is in axial alignment with the pin, the projection serving to hold the strip in the axially aligned position.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a boat trimming device in which a rod connected to a trim tab is mounted for vertical movement at the aft end of a boat and is guided by a guide which has a locking structure for holdin-g the rod in a desired position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trimming device with a locking structure in which a pin is inserted in a guide member to engage a depression in a rod received by the guide member to hold the rod in a desired position relative to the giude member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a locking structure for a boat trimming device wherein a pin for locking a rod in place has an extension pivotally connected thereto for retaining the pin relative to a guide block which receives the pin.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pin and pivotal extension referred to in the last preceding paragraph whereby the extension is pivotal between a position perpendicular to the pin wherein the extension locks the pin in place, and another position in axial alignment with the pin whereby the pin may be retracted to release the rod for vertical adjustment.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a pin and pin extension for a locking structure wherein the extension is received in a slot in the end of the pin, and the extension has a projection which engages the base of the slot when the extension is axially aligned with the pin to hold the extension in its aligned position.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of the aft end of a boat showing a trimming device in accordance with the invention attached thereto, with a trim tab and rod of the device being shown in an operative position and also in a raised inoperative position;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the trimming device of FIGURE 1 showing particularly a guide block and a rod guided by the guide block;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevational view taken from one side of FIGURE 2 showing a pin inserted into the guide block and an extension perpendicular to the pin for locking the pin in the guide block;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to FIGURE 3, but showing the extension aligned with the pin and the pin retracted from the guide block;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5 5 of FIGURE 3 also showing the pin in its inserted position; and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6 6 of FIGURE 4 showing the pin and extension in a retracted position relative to the guide block.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

As shown on the drawings:

Referring first to FIGURES 1 and 2, a boat trimming device 10 is shown attached to a transom 12 which is at the aft end of a boat, only the transom of the boat being shown in order to simplify the drawings. Mounted at the bottom of transom 12, which would also be the bottom of the boat, is a trim tab 14 which is attached to transom 12 by a hinge 16 including an arm 18 fastened as by bolts or welding to trim tab 14 and another arm fastened as by bolts to transom 12. Trim tab 14 is thus mounted for pivotal movement by hinge 16. Trim tab 14 may be a at metal plate as shown in the drawings, or it might have a curved configuration or some irregular configuration if desired. It will be understood that two trimming devices 10 are provided at the aft end of the boat, one on each side, but only one such device has been shown in the drawings to illustrate the construction thereof.

A rod 22 extends generally vertically, and its bottom is pivotally attached as by a pin 24 to a bracket 26 which in turn is attached by bolts to the rearward end of trim tab 14. Rod 22 is movable vertically to raise and lower trim tab 14 for trimming purposes, and a horizontal position for trim tab 14 is shown in solid lines in FIGURE 1, while a raised nearly vertical position for trim tab 14 is shown by dashed lines in FIGURE 1. Trim tab 14 and rod 22 may be adjusted downwardly or upwardly relative to the horizontal position of tab 14 to trim the boat. When it is desired to make tab 14 inoperative, as in'a following sea, rod 22 is moved vertically to the dashed line position shown in FIGURE 1, and tab 14 pivots counterclockwise to its dashed line position as shown in FIG- URE 1.

Rod 22 extends through a guide block 28, and the guide block is pivotally attached to two brackets and 32 (see FIGURE 3). Brackets 30 and 32 have first legs 34 and 36 which extend perpendicular to transom 12, and a bolt 38 extends through these legs and is anchored by.

a nut 40 (FIG. 2). Bolt 38 also passes through guide block 28 and allows pivotal movement of the guide block. Brackets 30 and 32 have second legs 42 and 44 which are fastened to the top of transom 12 as by bolts 46 and nuts 48. As rod 22 is adjusted vertically, guide block 28 moves pivotally to accommodate the transverse movement of rod 22 as indicated by the changed position of rod 22 in FIGURE 1.

As may be seen in FIGURES 5 and 6, guide block 28 has a vertical hole Sib extending through it, and rod 22 is received slidably in hole 50. Another hole 54 extends through guide block 28 transversely relative to hole 50 and communicates with hole 50. A locking structure including a pin 56 and an extension strip 58 extends through hole 54. Pin 56 has a handle or knob 60 affixed to the left end thereof as viewed in FIGURES S and 6, and a strip extension 58 is pivotally connected to the right end of pin 56 also as viewed in FIGURES 5 and 6.

Rod 22 has a series of depressions 62 therein spaced along its length. Rod 22 can be adjusted vertically to a position wherein any one of the depressions 62 is in alignment and registry with the hole S4 through which pin 56 extends. Thus, when pin 56 is fully inserted and extends through guide block 28, the pin projects into one of the depressions 62 and locks rod 22 in place.

As shown in FIGURES 4 and 6, pin 56 and strip extension 58 may be retracted to the left as viewed in FIG- URE 6 to pull the pin out of the depression in rod 22 and thus release rod 22 for vertical adjustment. It may be seen in FIGURE 6 that strip extension 58 is much thinner than pin 56 and so clears rod 22 so that the rod can move relative to guide block 28. An enlarged head 64 is provided on the right end of strip extension 58, and this head extends transversely beyond hole 54 so that when pin 56 and strip extension 58 are retracted to the left, head 64 engages guide block 28 to limit movement of the locking structure and thus retain the locking structure in guide block 28.

Pin 56 has a slot 66 extending inward axially from its right end as viewed in FIGURES 5 and 6. Strip extension 58 is received at one end thereof in slot 66 between lugs 68 (FIGURE 5), and is secured for pivotal movement by a small pin 70. When pin 56 is fully inserted through block 28, strip extension 58 can pivot to the position shown in FIGURES 3 and 5 wherein it is perpendicular to pin 56. If for some reason pin 56 is pulled to the left, strip extension 58 will engage block 28 to limit the movement of pin 56. Thus, pin 56 is locked in place by strip extension 58.

Now, if pin 56 is rotated through about 180 degrees from the position shown in FIGURES 3 and 5, strip extension 58 will pivot to the position shown in FIGURES 4 and 6 wherein it is in axial alignment with pin 56. In this condition, pin 56 and extension 58 can be retracted relative to block 28 to the position shown in FIGURES 4 and 6 wherein rod 22 is free for adjustment. Thus rod 22 can be unlocked simply by turning knob 60 180 degrees from the position shown in FIGURES 3 and 5 and then pulled to the left to the position shown in FIGURES 4 and 6i.

As shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the end portion 72 of strip extension 58 is cut at an angle so that a projection is formed on the end of strip extension 58. This projection does not interfere with pivoting :of the strip extension 58 to the perpendicular position shown in FIGURE 3. However, when pin 56 is rotated through 180 degrees from the position shown in FIGURE 3 and strip extension 58 pivots into axial alignment with pin 56, the projection at 72 engages the base 74 of slot 66 in the manner shown in FIGURE 4 to hold strip extension 68 in the axially aligned position. Thus, it is not necessary to use any manual manipulation of strip extension S8 in order to pivot it from the position shown in FIGURE 3 to the position shown in FIGURE 4. All that is needed is to rotate knob 60 with one hand, and strip extension 58 will drop into place. The other hand may be used to grasp knob 76 at the top of rod 22 as shown in FIGURE l.

Thus, the invention provides a simple trimming device including a vertically movable rod secured to a trim tab, a guide for the rod, and a locking structure associated with the guide for locking the rod in place. The locking structure is also quite simple and can be manipulated with one hand only to lock and unlock the rod. Most of the parts can be made from aluminum so that they will resist corrosion and be light and easy to assemble.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A trimming device for a boat, including in combination, a trim tab, means for pivotally mounting said trim tab at the aft end of the boat at or adjacent the bottom thereof in trimming relation to the boat, a trimming rod, means for operatively connecting said rod to said trimming tab for raising and lowering said tab pivotally by generally vertical movement of said rod, guide means having a rst hole extending through the same in which said rod is slidably received to permit generally vertical movement of said rod, means for operatively connecting said guide means to the aft end of the boat at a position above said trimming tab, said guide means having a second hole therein transverse to said first hole and communicating therewith, said rod having a plurality of depression therein spaced along the length thereof and registerable with said second hole in said guide means, and locking means for locking said rod in a desired position relative to said guide means, said locking means including pin means insertable in said second hole to project into one of said depressions and thereby hold said rod against vertical movement.

2. A trimming device as claimed in claim 1 in which said locking means further includes an extension from one end of said pin means smaller in transverse dimension than said pin means so that when said pin means is retracted out of said depression, said extension is aligned with said depression but clears said depression to allow vertical movement of said rod, said extension having means to limit movement of said locking means to retain said lockingr means in said guide means,

3. A trimming device as claimed in claim 2 in which said extension comprises a flat strip, and said movement limiting means comprises an enlarged portion of said strip at the end thereof remote from said pin means.

4. A trimming device as claimed in claim 2 in which said extension is pivotally connected to said one end of said pin means.

5. A trimming device as claimed in claim 4 in which said pin means extends entirely through said guide means when inserted therein so that said extension is then located outside said guide means, and said extension is adapted to pivot to a position generally perpendicular to said pin means to thereby lock said pin means in said inserted position.

6. A trimming device as claimed in claim 5 in which said pin means may be rotated about degrees from the inserted position wherein said extension is perpendicular thereto to allow said extension to return by gravity to a position in axial alignment with said pin means, and said extension includes means to retain the same in said axially aligned position to permit retraction of said pin means.

7. A trimming device as claimed in claim 6 in which said pin means comprises a cylindrical pin having a slot at said one end thereof and lugs on opposite sides of said Slot, and said extension comprises a strip having one end thereof, in said slot and pivotally connected to said lugs.

8. A trimming device as claimed in claim 7 in which said means to retain said extension in Said axially aligned position comprises a projection of said strip at said one end thereof between said lugs, said projection being engageable with the base of said slot to retain said extension in said axially aligned position, but allowing said extension to pivot to said perpendicular position upon rotation of said pin means.

9. A trimming device as claimed in claim S in which said one end of said strip has the edge thereof at an acute angle to the axis of said strip, thereby forming said projection.

10. A trimming device as claimed in claim 9 in which the opposite end of said strip is enlarged to a dimension greater than said second hole to provide said movement limiting means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ANDREW Hl FARRELL, Primary Examiner 

